Health care item storage and dispensing apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for storing and dispensing health care items comprises a container having multiple compartments. At least some of the compartments contain health care items and are labeled with indicia relating to the health care item contained therein. The container contains at least two different health care items with at least one compartment containing a health care item different from the health care item contained in a different compartment.

BACKGROUND

A common problem, particularly for travelers in foreign countries, islocating needed health care products in the case of an illness oremergency. Travelers often face language barriers, and thus, cannotreadily and easily locate the needed health care product in pharmaciesor stores. A traveler may be hesitant to purchase medication in aforeign country not knowing whether the medication is equivalent to theFederal Drug Administration approved medication in the United States.This is especially true for travelers with specialized medicalconditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, or even pregnancy.

However, traveling with multiple containers holding various health careitems is cumbersome and expensive. Moreover, medicine bottles andplastic containers often leak, break, or accidentally open in the courseof traveling.

Many attempts have been made to provide medicine storage and dispensingapparatuses. Reference is made to U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,638,603; 4,038,937;4,572,376; 4,693,371; 4,962,491; 5,174,451; 5,181,189; 5,921,394;6,032,085; 6,543,616; 6,550,618; 6,860,390; 5,579,941; 5,878,887;4,038,937; 5,377,839; 4,695,954; 6,082,554; and 6,779,663.

These prior art medicine container devices suffer from one or moredisadvantages, such as fragility, single compartments, smallcompartments, no carrying means, lack of labels with informationindicating the symptom or illness felt by the user, and requiring theuser to memorize dates or times.

SUMMARY

The present invention is directed to a health care item storage anddispensing apparatus for persons who need a compact and durable medicinecontainer that houses several types of health care items and thatovercome the disadvantages of prior art devices.

The medicine storage and dispensing apparatus of the present inventioncomprises a container having multiple compartments, at least some of thecompartments containing health care items and being labeled with indiciarelating to the health care item contained therein. The containercontains at least two different health care items with at least onecompartment containing a health care item different from the health careitem contained in a different compartment. Optionally, no twocompartments contain the same health care item.

The container preferably includes a cover for closing the container witha fastener for fastening the cover to the container. A translation cardincluding information relating to health care items and health careservices readable in at least two languages can be secured to theapparatus, preferably on the cover.

Preferably, at least one of the compartments has a lid for covering thecompartment, and the lid comprises opening means for lifting the lidfrom the compartment. The lid can include the indicia relating to thehealth care item contained within the compartment.

Optionally, the apparatus has an attached handle.

The apparatus can also include an outer protective removable seal aroundthe container.

The present invention is further directed to a shipping box containingmultiple medicine storage and dispensing apparatuses.

To use an apparatus according to the invention, a person having asymptom or illness needing to obtain a health care item selects theapparatus, reads the indicia labeled on the compartment identifying thesymptom, illness or type of health care item contained therein, andselects the desired health care item from the labeled compartment.

The apparatus for storing and dispensing health care items is made byselecting a container having at least one compartment, placing healthcare items in at least some of the compartments, wherein the containercontains at least two different health care items with at least onecompartment containing a health care item different from the health careitem contained in a different compartment, and labeling at least one ofthe compartments with indicia relating to the health care item containedtherein.

FIGURES

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood from the following description,appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a storage apparatus having features ofthe present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of three of the compartmentsof another storage apparatus according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a medicine storage apparatus 10 havingfeatures of the present invention comprises a container 12 havingmultiple compartments 14 that are separated from one another by dividers16. Each individual compartment 14 preferably has a lid 18 for closingthe compartment 14 in order to secure a health care item 20 (shown inFIG. 2) placed within the compartment 14. Each lid 18 includes openingmeans 22 so a user can easily open and close the lid 18. The openingmeans 22 can include a raised portion for grabbing the lid 18 (as shownin FIGS. 1 and 2); an attached loop for placing a finger in the loop toopen the lid 18; a recessed lip to place a finger thereunder to lift thelid 18; a slidable lid 18; or any other structures known for lifting alid from a container. The outer surface of the lid 18 has indicia 24corresponding to the health care item 20 contained in each compartment14.

As shown in FIG. 1, the compartments 14 can differ in size in order tohouse different types of health care items 20. The lids 18 differ insize accordingly. The number of compartments 14 in each container 12 canalso differ. The health care items 20 contained within the compartments14 may be loose or pre-packaged, such as individually packagedmedicines.

To further secure the health care items 20 within the compartments 14,the container 12 includes a cover 26 for closing the entire container12. The cover 26 preferably has a fastener 28 to better secure thehealth care items 20 when the cover 26 is in a closed position. Thefastener 28 can include separable fasteners, namely, hook and loop-typefasteners known as VELCRO strips (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2), locks,snaps, a hook and corresponding engaging knob, or any other convenientmechanism. To further protect and seal the health care items 20, therecan be an outer protective removable seal 30 such as a shrink wrapenclosing the container 12.

Optionally, the apparatus 10 has a translation card 32 secured to it,preferably on the cover 26. As shown in FIG. 1, the translation card 32is secured to the inside of the cover 26. Alternatively, the translationcard can be secured to the outside of the cover 26 or the bottom of thecontainer 12. The translation card 32 is secured to the cover 26preferably with a strong adhesive, so that it may not be easilydetached. Optionally, the translation card 32 can be secured withacetate fiber tape and other pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes, liquidadhesive or metal clasps; or the translation card can be enclosed in aprotective sleeve 34 that is secured to the apparatus 10.

Optionally, the apparatus 10 has a handle 36 to enable a person toeasily transport the medicine storage apparatus 10.

The apparatus 10 can be of varying sizes to be easily transported, butat the same time, contain a sufficient number of health care items 20.The shape of the container 12 can also vary. Although preferably theshape of the container 12 is rectangular, as shown in the Figures, theshape may also be spherical, square, triangular, or any otherconventional shape for a container.

The container 12, compartments 14, dividers 16, lids 18, opening means22, cover 26, and handle 36 can be made out of plastic such as nylon,polypropylene, acrylic, and polystyrene; metal; wood; or any otherconventional materials to capable of withstanding repeated use. Theouter protective removable seal 30 enclosing the container 12 can bemade of shrink-wrap plastic, plastic, nylon, paper, or cotton.

Multiple containers 12 can be placed within a shipping box (not shown inthe Figures).

In use, a person feeling ill uses the medicine storage apparatus 10 bypreferably opening the outer seal 30, such as by tearing the plastic.The person then locates the fastener 28 to open the cover 26 attached tothe container 12. Upon opening the cover 26, the person locates theappropriate symptom or illness indicia 24 (shown as “ABC” in FIG. 1)written on one of the lids 18. For example, if the ill person suffersfrom a cough, the person locates the indicia 24 “cough” on the lid 18.Other corresponding illnesses and symptoms indicia 24 corresponding withthe health care items 20 contained in the compartments 14 can include,for example and without limitation, “cut” for adhesive bandages, “sorethroat” for lozenges, “insect bite” for ointment, “diarrhea” forPEPTOBISMAL, “dandruff” for natural shampoo, “cold sore” for lipointment, “migraine” for EXCEDERINE, “heartburn” for antacids,“constipation” for laxatives, “rash” for ointment, “blisters” forcushioning material, “allergies” for anti-histamines, or “tiredness” forsleep-aids.

Alternatively, the indicia 24 written on a lid 18 can identify thehealth care item 20 within the corresponding compartment 14. Forexample, if a compartment 14 contains a thermometer therein, the indicia24 written on the lid 18 attached to the compartment 14 states“Thermometer.” The indicia 24 on the lid 18 can also identify both thesymptom or illness and the health care item 20, for example,“migraine/EXCEDERINE.” The indicia 24 can be in languages other thanEnglish.

Alternatively, at least one of the compartments 14 can be empty to allowa compartment 14 for a person's own over-the-counter medication orprescribed medication. Thus, the lid 18 can be absent of any indicia 24.

By using the opening means 22, the person opens the lid 18 to thecompartment 14. Upon opening the lid 18, the person finds a health careitem 20 appropriate for treating a cough. The health care item 20 may beloosely placed in the compartment 14 or pre-packaged in a package orbottle. For example, cough syrup for treating a cough would preferablybe in a closed bottle with instructions on the bottle. Pre-packagedhealth care items 20 generally have instructions on how to use the item20 written on the outside package or bottle. Where the health care item20 is loosely placed in the compartment 14, such as individual vitaminsor pills, the indicia 24 on each lid 18 can include instructions onusing the particular health care item 20 contained in that compartment14. Optionally, an instruction card can be fixed to the inside of thelid 18 or placed loosely in the compartment 14 to inform the user how touse the health care item 20.

In the case where a person is unable to speak the locale's language inwhich he or she is in, such as when traveling, the translation card 32includes information relating to health care items 20 and health careservices in a minimum of two languages. The translation card 32 is toprovide a user with typical questions and statements pertaining tolocating necessary health care items and services. By way of example,the translation card 32 can include the following information: “English:Where is the nearest pharmacy? French: Où est la pharmacie la plusproche?” or English: “Where can I get a pregnancy test kit?” Spanish:“Dónde puede obtengo un juego de la prueba del embarazo?”.

Generally, the health care items 20 contained in the compartments 14 arefor typical ailments; however, each medical storage apparatus 10 can betailored to different types of users with specialized conditions. Thus,each specialized medical storage and dispensing apparatus 10 can includehealth care items 20 directed to the specialized condition. For example,an apparatus 10 can be directed to a diabetic, and thus, contain healthcare items 20 tailored specifically to a diabetic's needs, such asinsulin. Other specialized health care item conditions can include, forexample, asthma, high blood pressure, and pregnancy.

Although the present invention is useful for travelers in foreigncountries, the storage and dispensing apparatus 10 can also be storedand used in the home, workplace, vehicle, commercial and private boats,and commercial and private airplanes.

To make the apparatus for storing and dispensing health care items 10 aperson can select a container 12 having at least one compartment 14. Theperson can place health care items 20 in at least some of thecompartments 14. Preferably, at least one compartment 14 contains ahealth care item 20 than another compartment 14 containing a differenthealth care item 20. Each compartment 14 is then labeled with indicia 24identifying a symptom or illness relating to the health care item 20contained with that compartment 14. Preferably, a person attaches acover 26 to the apparatus 10 and fastening means to the cover 26.Optionally, a translation card 32 relating to health care items andhealth care services readable in at least two languages can be affixedto the cover 26.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detailwith reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions arepossible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims shouldnot be limited to the description of the preferred versions containedherein.

All features disclosed in the specification, including the claims,abstracts, and drawings, and all the steps in any method or processdisclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations whereat least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. Eachfeature disclosed in the specification, including the claims, abstract,and drawings, can be replaced by alternative features serving the same,equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus,unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one exampleonly of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means” forperforming a specified function or “step” for performing a specifiedfunction, should not be interpreted as a “means” for “step” clause asspecified in 35 U.S.C. § 112.

1. An apparatus for storing and dispensing health care items,comprising: a container having multiple compartments, at least some ofthe compartments containing health care items and being labeled withindicia relating to the health care item contained therein, wherein thecontainer contains at least two different health care items with atleast one compartment containing a health care item different from thehealth care item contained in a different compartment.
 2. The apparatusof claim 1 wherein the container includes a cover for closing thecontainer.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the apparatus comprises afastener for fastening the cover to the container.
 4. The apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein the apparatus comprises a translation card securedthereto, the translation card including information relating to healthcare items and health care services readable in at least two languages.5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of the compartments hasa lid for covering the compartment.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 whereinthe lid comprises opening means for lifting the lid from thecompartment.
 7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the lid has the indiciathereon.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus has anattached handle.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein no two compartmentscontain the same health care items.
 10. An apparatus for storing anddispensing health care items, comprising: a container having multiplecompartments, at least some of the compartments containing health careitems and being labeled with indicia relating to the health care itemcontained therein, the container containing at least two differenthealth care items, the container including a cover for closing thecontainer, the apparatus having a translation card secured thereto, thetranslation card including information relating to health care items andhealth care services in at least two languages, and the containerincludes an outer protective removable seal around the container.
 11. Ashipping box comprising: multiple containers for storing and dispensinghealth care items, each container having multiple compartments, at leastsome of the compartments containing health care items and being labeledwith indicia relating to the health care item contained therein, andeach container contains at least two different health care items. 12.The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the container includes a cover forclosing the container.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein theapparatus comprises fastening means for fastening the cover to thecontainer.
 14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the apparatus comprisesa translation card secured thereto, the translation card includinginformation relating to health care items and health care servicesreadable in at least two languages.
 15. The apparatus of claim 11wherein at least one of the compartments has a lid for covering thecompartment.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the lid comprisesopening means for lifting the lid from the compartment.
 17. Theapparatus of claim 15 wherein the lid has the indicia thereon.
 18. Amethod for a person having a symptom or illness to obtain a health careitem comprising the steps of: a) selecting the apparatus for storing anddispensing health care items of claim 1; b) reading the indicia labeledon the compartment relating to the health care item contained therein;and c) selecting the desired health care item from the labeledcompartment.
 19. A method for making an apparatus for storing anddispensing health care items comprising the steps of: a) selecting acontainer having at least one compartment; b) placing health care itemsin at least some of the compartments, wherein the container contains atleast two different health care items with at least one compartmentcontaining a health care item different from the health care itemcontained in a different compartment; and c) labeling at least one ofthe compartments with indicia relating to the health care item containedtherein.